Gerunds vs. Infinitives After Verbs: Rules and Examples for ESL Learners

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 📝 Gerunds are verbs ending in '-ing' that act like nouns (e.g., Swimming is fun).
• 💡 Infinitives are the 'to + verb' form (e.g., to swim).
• ➡️ Some verbs are followed by gerunds (e.g., enjoy, avoid, consider).
• ✅ Some verbs are followed by infinitives (e.g., want, need, decide).
• 🔄 Some verbs can be followed by either gerunds or infinitives with little to no change in meaning (e.g., start, begin, continue).
• ⚠️ Some verbs can be followed by either gerunds or infinitives with a change in meaning (e.g., remember, stop, regret).

🧪 Practice Quiz

1. Which sentence correctly uses a gerund after the verb 'enjoy'?
   1. Enjoy to swim in the ocean.
   2. Enjoy swimming in the ocean.
   3. Enjoy swim in the ocean.
   4. Enjoyed to swimming in the ocean.
2. Which sentence correctly uses an infinitive after the verb 'want'?
   1. I want going to the party.
   2. I want to go to the party.
   3. I want go to the party.
   4. I wanting to go to the party.
3. The verb 'stop' can be followed by a gerund or an infinitive, but the meaning changes. Which sentence shows 'stop' followed by a gerund?
   1. I stopped to eat lunch.
   2. I stopped eating lunch.
   3. I stopped for eat lunch.
   4. I stopped and eat lunch.
4. Which verb is typically followed by a gerund?
   1. Decide
   2. Want
   3. Avoid
   4. Hope
5. Which verb is typically followed by an infinitive?
   1. Consider
   2. Finish
   3. Learn
   4. Agree
6. Which sentence uses the correct form after the verb 'begin'?
   1. I begin to studying every day.
   2. I begin studying every day.
   3. I begin study every day.
   4. I am begin studying every day.
7. Which sentence correctly uses a gerund or infinitive after 'remember' with a change in meaning?
   1. I remember to lock the door (so I did it).
   2. I remember locking the door (I have a memory of doing it).
   3. Both A and B are correct in different contexts.
   4. Neither A nor B is correct.